Shaun Pollock

Player: South Africa (1995-2008)

As part of South Africa’s most prominent cricketing family, Shaun Pollock had a lot to live up to: father Peter was the Proteas’ premier fast bowler in the 1960s and Don Bradman considered uncle Graeme the best left-handed batsman ever.

Shaun did not disappoint, taking more wickets than any other South African in Test match history (at a remarkable average of 23.11) and scoring 3,781 runs including two centuries, making him one of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen. He was just the sixth player to take 300 wickets and score 3,000 runs in Test cricket.

Pollock made his first class debut in the 1991-92 season and his first Test Match came at the end of 1995 against England when he took three wickets. He quickly graduated to the new ball, forming a potent partnership with Allan Donald. Pollock’s unerring accuracy brought him 421 wickets, but he also exhibited phenomenal stamina, bowling 41 overs to take 7-87 against the Australians in Adelaide in 1998.

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Shaun did not disappoint the family name

In One Day International (ODI) cricket Pollock found similar success, scoring more than 3,500 runs and taking 393 wickets at an average of 24.5. In his final ODI, against West Indies, Pollock signed off in style, hitting the winning runs.

He was made captain of South Africa in 2000 and led his country 26 times, winning 14 Tests. Pollock led South Africa in the 2003 World Cup on home soil, although the team failed to live up to expectations.

Pollock retired from Test and ODIs in early 2008 and played for the Mumbai Indians for one season in the IPL, before taking on a coaching and mentoring role. He has proven to be an entertaining commentator for Sky Sports and BBC Test Match Special.